Indian Culture

Idli

Idli is a small, round steamed cake made from a fermented batter of rice and urad dal.1,2,3 In South India it is eaten for breakfast with coconut chutney and sambar.1,4,5

Also known as Idli rice cakes

Idli is a small, round cake from South India, steamed from a batter of rice and urad dal, that is, skinned black gram.1,2,3,6,7 Rice and urad dal are soaked and ground separately, then mixed with a little salt; the batter ferments overnight at room temperature.1,4 Lactic acid bacteria that come with the ingredients produce lactic acid and carbon dioxide, which sour the batter and make it rise, so no starter culture is needed.2,4 It is steamed in an idli mould with round hollows.1,4 In South India, idli is a popular breakfast, often with coconut chutney and sambar.1,4,5 The Gits Rice Idli Mix pack lists rice flour, lentil flour, raising agent and acidifier.8

What is idli called in English?

Usually just idli, or a steamed rice cake; the word comes from Malayalam and Kannada iḍḍali. The batter of rice and urad dal ferments overnight and is steamed in moulds.1,4,6,7

What is the difference between idli and dosa?

Both are made from a fermented batter of rice and urad dal. Idli is steamed into small round cakes, while dosa is fried on a griddle into a thin pancake, crisp on the surface.1,2,5,9

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Sources

  1. Davidson, A. (2014). idli. In The Oxford Companion to Food. Oxford University Press.
  2. Lee, C.-H. (1999). Fermented cereals. A global perspective, Chapter 3: Cereal fermentations in countries of the Asia-Pacific region. FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin 138. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
  3. Pai Raikar, S. (2026). Indian cuisine. In Encyclopaedia Britannica.
  4. Ghosh, D. & Chattopadhyay, P. (2010). Preparation of idli batter, its properties and nutritional improvement during fermentation. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 48(5), 610–615. DOI: 10.1007/s13197-010-0148-4
  5. Britannica Editors. (2025). curry tree. In Encyclopaedia Britannica.
  6. Cambridge University Press. (n.d.). idli. In Cambridge Dictionary. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  7. Oxford University Press. (n.d.). idli. In Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  8. Indian Culture: Gits Rice Idli Mix: ingredients on the pack.
  9. Davidson, A. (2014). dosa. In The Oxford Companion to Food. Oxford University Press.

Cite this entry

MLA

“Idli.” Indian Culture Glossary, Indian Culture, https://www.indian-culture.de/en/glossar/idli.

Chicago

Indian Culture Glossary, s.v. “Idli,” https://www.indian-culture.de/en/glossar/idli.

APA

Indian Culture. (n.d.). Idli. In Indian Culture glossary. https://www.indian-culture.de/en/glossar/idli